(Yicai Global) Nov. 5 -- China Eastern Air Holding, the parent company of one of the country’s biggest airlines, penned two procurement deals worth USD1.1 billion on the first day of the third China International Import Expo.

China Eastern also plans to buy goods and services, including in-flight catering, jet fuel, fresh food and special vehicles, which is expected to bring the total purchase amount during the trade fair to over USD1.3 billion.

The Shanghai-based company signed an agreement with CFM International over Leap-1A aircraft engine repairs and six backup engines. Another deal was sealed with Honeywell International for auxiliary power units.

The firm will also sign deals with vendors from 11 countries and regions, including Collins Aerospace, formally known as Rockwell Collins, Karma Automotive, UK-based Mallaghan Engineering, ExxonMobil and China Aviation Oil Singapore, according to Deputy General Manager Cheng Guowei.

In addition, China Eastern will ink a multi-million dollar deal with cherry supplier Pro Chile. About 90 percent of the South American country’s cherries were shipped to China via China Eastern Airlines flights last year.

Compared with overseas counterparts, China’s carriers are recovering with the coronavirus under control at home. Passenger turnover at China Eastern Airlines doubled in the three months ended September, while its domestic schedule has recovered to 112 percent from the same period last year.

Many Chinese aviation firms, including China Southern and Zhejiang Loong Airlines, will also sign large orders with foreign suppliers, Yicai Global learned. Loong Airlines will ink a Leap-1A engine repair and maintenance deal covering a 12-year aircraft lease and a purchase deal for four spare engines with General Electric.

Editors: Liao Shumin, Peter Thomas